Embedded spaced truss structures



Oct. 17, 1967 J. R. HALE 3,347,007

EMBEDDED SPACED TRUSS STRUCTURES Filed Dec. 18, 1964 4 sheets-Sheet 2 v 62) l 50 i' .I'I I Il M/VfA/faa. Jarre ,2. //4/ e Oct. 17, 1967 .1. R. HALE 3,347,007

EMBEDDED SPACED TRUSS STRUCTURE A Filed Dec. l8, 1964 4 sheets-Sheet 5 Jarre 72. A/a/e 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 J. R. HALE EMBEDDED SPACED TRUSS STRUCTURES 'mwmx f Oct. 17, 1967 Filed Dec. 18, 1964 United States Patent O 3,347,007 EMBEDDED SPACED TRUSS STRUCTURES Jesse R. Hale, 14020 Budlong Ave., Gardena, Calif. 90247 Filed Dec. 18, 1964, Ser. No. 419,357 9 Claims. (Cl. 52-380) This invention relates to the space structures and methods for fabricating same, and more particularly to such structures having the structural characteristics of .a multipartite monolith.

Space structures which comprise truss members joined together to form a multiplanar framework have come into widespread use in many types of constructions such as, for example, bridges, buildings, towers, etc. This type of structure has the advantage of providing an improved strength to weight ratio .and is generally much cheaper and easier to fabricate and assemble than devices having equivalent structural characteristics.

The methods used in the prior art for assembling space structures often involve the piecemeal assembly of space truss units on the erecti-onsite. Such techniques leave much to be desired in the way of economy .and ease of fabrication. The method of this invention involves prefabrication by a novel method which greatly facilitates and lessens the cost of the initial fabrication of such units as well as their assembly into final form. Furthermore, the basic prefabricated structural units .are such that they can readily be combined in various forms to meet a multitude of application requirements.

From the basic structural units fabricated by applicantis novel method, several structures novel in themselves have been evolved Which provide substantial improvement over prior art space structures. Such structual improvements are related primarily to improved Strength and superior load distribution characteristics which are those of a multipartite monolith (i.e., structural load distribution characteristics similar to those of a homogeneous slab).

The improvement is achieved in the method of the linvention by fabricating a basic space truss comp-rising a plurality of pyramid-shaped units by either bending a fiat wire mesh to such form or forming straight lengths of wire in a generally sinusoidal shape and then joining such sinusoidal elements together at their apices. Applicantis 'method also involves the addition of grid members joined to the apices of the pyramidal units `and also includes various techniques for adapting this basic structure to particular forms for special application requirements.

Applicantls novel structure includes the combination of the basic space trusses just described in various novel forms and in conjunction with sheet-like members which are attached to the .apices of the pyramidal truss members 'and which in some instances envelop such apices.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide an improved method for fabricating space structures.

.It is a further object of this invention to provide a method for fabricating space structures which provides greater economy and ease of fabrication than prior art methods.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an improved method for fabricating space structures having the characteristics of a multipartite monolith.

It is still another object or this invention to provide an improved method for fabricating a sandwich-type srtuctural member utilizing space trusses for the support of two substantially fiat members.

It is still a further object of this invention to provide 'improved space structures having superior structural 'characteristics to those of prior art structures.

It is still another object of this invention to provide an improved space structure having the characteristics of a ice multipartite monolith in which such space structure is integrally combined with rigid broad surfaced building material.

Other Objects Iof this invention Will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings of which,

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a method foi fabricating the basic truss elements from wire mesh,

FIG. 2 is an elevation view of the device illustrated in FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a method for fabricating .the basic truss elements from straight wire units,

FIG. 4 is .an elevation view of the devi-ce shown in FIG. 3,

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing wire grids added to the basic structure of FIG. 3,

FIG. 6 is an elevation view of the device shwn in FIG. 5,

FIG. 7 is an elevation view illustrating the addition of wire mesh members to the structure shown in FIG. 3,

FIG. 8 is a perspective view illustrating the addition of wire mesh members to the device shown in FIG. l,

FIG. 9 is an elevation view of a device similar to that of FIG. 8 but with the wire mesh running at a 45 degree angle, with respect to the sinusoidal truss plane,

FIG. 10 is an illustration of a space truss comprising a pair of basic pyramidal truss elements joined together at their apices,

F IG. 11 illustrates an embodiment of the device of the invention involving a basic pyramidal space truss sandwiched between .a pair of flat plastic plates,

FIG. 12 illustrates an embodiment of the device -of the invention involving a pyramidal space truss with its apex portions enveloped in sheets or cast material,

FIG. 13 illustrates an embodiment of the device of the invention comprising pyramidal truss members attached to a metal plate at the apices thereof,

FIG. 14 illustrates an embodiment of the device of the invention combining large and small pyramidal space truss units,

FIG. 15 illustrates the modification of the embodiment of FIG. 14 to form a solid support structure especially suitable for handling non-static loads, and

' FIG. 16 illustrates an embodiment or the device of the invention utilizing a large pyramidal space truss unit sandwiched between two small truss units.

Referring now to FIGS. l and 2, the formation of the basic space truss unit of the device of the invention from welded wire mesh is illustrated. Flat welded wire mesh shown as 1111 comprising stringer wires 12 and 13 welded together at their juncture points are folded at such juncture points at an angle which may be between 35 and 70 with respect to the original plane of stringers 12 and 13. Pyramidal space trusses 11b are thus formed. Such folding can be accomplished in an appropriate bending machine.

A space truss structure similar in configuration and structural characteristics can also be formed as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4. In this instance, elongated wire members 17 and 18 are first formed into a generally sinusoidal shape and these uniplanar sinusoidal members are joined together by welding or other appropriate means at their apices 20. As for the space structure illustrated in FIGS. l and 2, the apex angles of the pyramidal truss members may have a suitable magnitude which may be between 35 and 70.

Referring now to FIGS. 5 and 6, the structure illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4 can be modified to .provide greater Strength and rigidity by adding longitudinal wire grids 21 and transverse wire grids 22, such wire grids being welded to the pyramidal units at apices 20 and base corners 25.

The addition of grid wires 21 and 22 adds both Strength and rigidity to the structure. Grid wires 21 and 22 can either be placed as shown in FIG. 5, i.c., running normal to the sinusoidal truss plane of the core, or can be placed at a 45 angle with respect to the sinusoidal truss plane.

Referring now to FIG. 7, the space truss structure of FIGS. 3 and 4 can be modified to give even greater rigidity and Strength by the addition of wire meshes 30 and 31 sandwiching the truss member. Wire meshes 30 and 31 each include stringer wires 34 and 35 welded to the apices of the pyramidal space trusses. The wire meshes may be joined to the space trusses at the time such trusses are formed with a single operation being used to join sinusoidal wires 17 and 18 to each other and to mesh units 30 and 31.

Referring now to FIGS. S and 9, the addition of wire meshes 30and 31 to the structure of FIGS. 1 and 2 is illustrated. Wire mesh units 30 and 31, which may comprise welded wire mesh, are welded to the space truss lmembers formed by wires 12 and 13 at the apices thereof. This provides a similar structural configuration to that of FIG. 7 which has greater rigidity and Strength than a basic space truss unit by itself. FIG. 9 is an elevation view illustrating the alternative placing of the mesh units 30 and 31 at a 45 angle with respect to the sinusoidal plane of the core rather than normal to and in such plane as shown in FIG. 8;

1n.view of the fact that welded wire mesh is at present available only for meshes up to SiX inches square, the methodfor forming the truss cores of FIGS. 1 and 2 has been used for forming space trusses having Smaller sized elements while for larger sized elements, the technique illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4 has been found more practicable.

Referring now to FIG. 10, an embodiment of the device of the invention utilizing a double truss core configuration is illustrated. In this embodiment, a first space truss member 40, formed as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is joined to a second Similar space truss core 42 by welding these two units together at their apices 43. Welded wire mesh units 45 and 46 are attached to truss members 40 and 42 respectively by welding to the apices 49 thereof. The embodiment may also be formed from the units illustrated in PIGS. 3 and 4.

Referring now to FIG. 11, the formation of a sandwich panel unit with the basic truss cores of FIGS. 1-4 is illustrated. Here again, the units of FIGS. 1 and 2 are shown for illustrative purposes. The apices of truss core 55 are attached to the surfaces of sheets 50 andl 51, thereby forming a rigid panel member of very high Strength. Boards` 50 and 51 may be of plaster board, fiber glass, asbestos sheet, metal, glass, or any other suitable material, and the attach-ment of truss members 55 thereto may be achieved by welding, bonding, or mechanical locking.

Referring now to FIG. 12, an embodiment of the device of the invention in which the truss core structure of FIG.

8 is cast in a material such as concrete and plaster to` form a sandwich unit is illustrated. The core unit having wire `grids 30 and 31 running at an angle of substantially 45 with respect to the sinusoidal plane of the core and welded to the apices thereof is placed in material such as plaster or concrete 60 when such material is still plastic. Material 60 envelops both grid `31 and truss Core apices 15. Material 60 is then allowed to set so Vthat it rigidly holds the truss member. After mesh unit 31 and its associated truss apices have been joined to Slab 60, the unit is turned upside down and wire mesh 30 and its associated apices 15 are similarly set into slab 62. The sandwich structural unit thus formed has exceptionally good structural characteristics and can be utilized, for example, in preforming ceiling and floor units, adjacent Wall structures and the like. Having the joints at apices 15 submerged within the material of slabs 60 and 62, effectively enables the translation of bending shear loads on the truss into compression loads in the enveloping material. The

bending loads applied to the mesh units 30 and 31 are similarly translated into compression loads in the enveloping material. In view of the fact that most constructional materials, such as concrete, gypsum and 'the like, exhibit` their greatest Strength in compression, the translation of the loads on the truss cores into such compression loads maximizes the effective Strength of the Composite structure and minimizes the chances of membrane members 60 and 62 buckling.

Referring now to FIG. 13, an embodiment of the device of the invention utilizing a truss core attached on one side thereof to a metal plate is illustrated. Core 55 has a wire mesh 30 welded to one side thereof and is welded at the other side thereof to metal plate 70. Metal plate 70 thus provides a base plate for the truss member.

Referring now to FIG. 14, an embodiment of the device of the invention utilizing two truss core sections having truss units of different sizes and depths is .illustrated. A first larger core section 70 has a mesh 75 fixedly attached to the bottom apices thereof by suitable means such as welding. Smaller truss core section 78 has meshes 79 and 80 attached to the top and bottom apices thereof respectively. The bottom mesh 80 and truss core section 78 are attached to the larger core section 70 at the top apices thereof.

The structure illustrated in FIG. 14 can be utilized as` shown in` FIG. 15 to form a structure suitable for.

handling very high non-static' loads such as, for example, highways and aircraft runways. Referring to FIG. 15,

truss core section 78 and its associated meshes 79 and 80 are set in concrete slab 81, their welding `joints and the upperl apices of core section 70 all being enveloped by the concrete material. Larger truss core section 70 which rests on the ground is completely filled with Sand. Sand not only `supports truss 4core section 70 but also.

acts as a hydrostatic load distribution medium, i.c., the sand effectively operates like a liquid in distributing the a load, tending to shift therewith to create equal load4 distribution at all times. Thus, with changing loads, the support structure of FIG. 15 self adapts itself to handle such loads in ideal fashion.

Referring now to FIG. 16, an embodiment of the device of the invention utilizing a large truss unit sandwiched between two small truss units is shown. The embodiment of FIG. 16 includes small truss units `78 and having mesh structures 79, 80vand 86, 87 respectively attached thereto. The truss units and their associated mesh structures are attached to opposite sides of large truss unit 70 at the apices thereof to form a unitary structure. Truss unit 78, its associated-meshes 79 and 80 and the upper apices of large truss unit 70 are all set in concrete slab 81, while truss unit 85,`its associated meshes 86 and 87 and the lower apices of unit 70 are similarly set in concrete slab 83. Such concrete envelopments effectively translate loads on the truss cores into compression loads in the concrete slabs as explained in connection with FIG. 12. The structure of FIG. 16 can be utilized to advantage, for example, in fabricating floor and ceiling members and wall members in building construction.

It is to be noted that while the device of the invention has been described in conjunction with wire mesh and wire elements, plastic or fiber material can be utilized to equal advantage where application demands so indicate.

The device and method of this invention thus provide a multipartite structure generally rectangular in form which has characteristic such that it produces monolithic energy dispersement patterns, i.c., it `has load distribution characteristics similar to those of a homogeneous slab. A novel method for producing the basic truss units utilized inthe device of the invention which makes such fabrication more economical and easier to accomplish is described. The various embodiments of the device of the invention provide a space structure having superior structural characteristics Which is substantially cheaper and easier to fabricate than similar prior art structures.

While the method and device of this invention has been described and illustrated in detail, it is to be clearly understood that this is intended by Way of illustration and example only and is not to be taken by way of limitation, the spirit and scope of this invention being limited only by the terms of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A space structure comprising:

a first space truss section including a plurality of Wirelike elements joined together to form a plurality of pyramidal truss units,

a mesh attached to the pyramidal apices on one side of said first truss section,

a mesh attached to the pyramidal apices on the other side of said first truss section,

a second space truss section similar in configuration to said first space truss section, the pyramidal truss units of said second section being substantially larger in Width and depth than those of said first truss section, and

a mesh attached to the pyramidal apices on one side of said second truss section,

the pyramidal apices on the other side of said second truss section being attached to one of the meshes attached to said first truss section.

2. The structure as recited in claim 1 and additionally including a slab, said first truss section and the pyramidal apices on the other side of said second truss section being set in said slab and completely enveloped thereby.

3. The structure as recited in claim 2 and additionally including sand completely filling the core of said second truss section.

4. A space structure comprising:

a first space truss section including a plurality of wirelike elements joined together to form a plurality of pyramidal truss units,

a uniplanar mesh attached to the pyramidal apices on one side of said first truss section,

a uniplanar mesh attached to the pyramidal apices on the other side of said first truss section,

a second space truss section substantially identical in size and configuration to said first space truss section,

a separate uniplanar mesh respectively attached to the pyramidal apices on each or the sides of said second truss section,

a third space truss section similar in configuration to said first and second truss sections, the pyramidal truss units of said third section being substantially larger in Width and depth than those of said first and second sections, and

said third truss section being sandwiched between said first and second sections with the pyramidal apices on one side of said third section attached to one of the meshes of said first truss section and the pyramidal apices on the other side of said third section attached to one of the meshes of said second truss section.

5. The space structure as recited in claim 4 and additionally including a first and second slab unit, said first truss section and the apices of said third section attached thereto being set in and completely enveloped by one of said slab units, said second truss section and the apices of said third section attached thereto being set in and completely enveloped by said second slab unit.

6. A space structure comprising:

a first space truss section having a plurality of pyramidal truss units, said truss units being formed from a plurality of uniplanar substantially sinusoidally shaped wire-like elements joined together at their apices,

a pair of uniplanar mesh units, one of said mesh units being attached to the pyramidal apices on one side of said first space truss section, the other of said mesh units being attached to the pyramidal apices on the side of said first space truss section opposite said one side thereof, and

a second space truss section similar in configuration to said first truss section, said second truss section having pyramidal truss units substantially larger in Width and depth than those of said first truss section, the pyramidal apices of one side of said second truss section being attached to one of the mesh units of said first truss section.

7. The structure as recited in claim 6 vand further including a slab member, said first truss section, its associated mesh units and said pyramidal apices of said one side of said second truss section being set in said slab member and enveloped by the material of said slab member.

8. The structure as recited in claim 7 Wherein the spaces 'between the wire elements of said second truss section are filled With sand.

9. The structure as recited in claim 7 and further including a third truss section substantially identical to said first truss section With substantially identical mesh units attached thereto, one of the mesh units of said third truss section being attached to the pyramidal apices on the other side of said second truss section, said third truss section, a second slab member, its associated mesh units and the apices of said second truss section attached thereto being set in said second slab member and enveloped by the material of said second slab member,

whereby said second truss section is sandwiched between said first and second truss sections and said slabs and bending shear loads on said truss sections and bending loads on said mesh units are translated into compression loads in the slab members.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,349,868 8/1920 Atterbury 52-381 1,568,265 1/1926 Carrillon 52-378 1,733,779 10/1929 Connell 52-648 1,911,018 5/1933 Goeltz 52-648 1,963,983 6/1934 Garrett 52-378 3,258,891 7/1966 Haberbosch 52-615 FOREIGN PATENTS 77,206 7/1919 Austria.

1,354,223 1/ 1964 France.

JOHN E. MURTAGH, Primary Examner. J. L. RIDGILL, Assistant Examiner. 

6. A SPACE STRUCTURE COMPRISING: A FIRST SPACE TRUSS SECTION HAVING A PLURALITY OF PYRAMIDAL TRUSS UNITS, SAID TRUSS UNITS BEING FORMED FORM A PLURALITY OF UNIPLANAR SUBSTANTIALLY SINUSOIDALLY SHAPED WIRE-LIKE ELEMENTS JOINED TOGETHER AT THEIR APICES, A PAIR OF UNIPLANAR MESH UNITS, ONE OF SAID MESH UNITS BEING ATTACHED TO THE PYRAMIDAL APICES ON ONE SIDE OF SAID FIRST SPACE TRUSS SECTION, THE OTHER OF SAID MESH UNITS BEING ATTACHED TO THE PYRAMIDAL APICES ON THE SIDE OF SAID FIRST SPACE TRUSS SECTION OPPOSITE SAID ONE SIDE THEREOF, AND SECOND SPACE TRUSS SECTION SIMILAR IN CONFIGURATION TO SAID FIRST TURSS SECTION, SAID SECOND TRUSS SECTION HAVING PYRAMIDAL TRUSS UNITS SUBSTANTIALLY LARGER IN WIDTH AND DEPTH THAN THOSE OF SAID FIRST TRUSS SECTION, THE PYRAMIDAL APICES OF ONE SIDE OF SAID SECOND TRUSS SECTION BEING ATTACHED TO ONE OF THE MESH UNITS OF SAID FIRST TRUSS SECTION. 